Electrical coupling for detachably connecting conductor ends



Aug. 5. 1952 H. J. MODREY ELECTRICAL COUPLING FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING CONDUCTOR ENDS 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEET 1 Filed April 21, 1948 biz/2311151 6 Z LS llllu I INVENTOR.

M MM M N H N M r T A Aug. 5. 1952 H. J. MODREY 2,606,224

ELECTRICAL COUPLING FOR DETAOHABLY CONNECTING CONDUCTOR ENDS Filed April 21, 1948 2 smm'rs-srmm 2 IN VEN TOR. A f/V971 M02427 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STAES ELECTRICAL COUPLING FORDETACHAB LY CONNECTING CONDUCTOR ENDS f Henry J. Modrey, Newark, N. J. Application April 21, 1948, Serial No. 22,303

11' Claims. (01. 173-423) This invention relates to electrical couplings as are used for detachably connecting two con-,- ductors orcables.

Conventional electrical coupli gs of the general type, above referred to, comprise two connector members, one usually referred to as nine or male member and the other as socket or female member.

As will be obvious, the two members of such coupling are inherently .of different or unsymmetrical design and it will further be obvious that two conductor or cable end cannot be connected with each other unless one conductor ends in a plug or male member and the other in a socket or iemalemember.

As a result, difficulties and inconveniences arise .in certain instances when; conductor or cable sections .of considerable length are to be connected to form a continuous cable. Such cablesections .of considerable length and frequently of substantial weight are usually stored andtransported .on cable drums vfrom which the cable sections are *unroljled .as needed and then laid out. When it is found that the connector members on two cables ends to be connected do not match, one cable section must be rewound and reversed or special intermediate couplings or joints must be employed. Therewinding and relaying .of a long and heavy cable section are inconvenient and time consumingand in certain conditions it may also be dangerous, for in.- stance when the cable is to be ilaid'by the armed forcesin :timesof war and under fire. The use of intermediate couplings, while obviating reversing of :a cable section, requires additional quipment and practical experien e shows that suchtintermediate couplings are not always avail-, able when needed. .Accordingly..it is. one of the obje ts of the invention tornrovide a :novel .and..:imp v. d s mtri al c p i the connectcr':members :of which can. be conveniently joined to 1111 6133- rated from each other and are capable of withstandingsubstantial pull without separating.

Another object of the invention, allied w th the-preceding. one,;is-to provide a novel andimroved symmetrical coupling .havin :a hi h axial rigidity. 1

The two last mentioned, objects are of "great practical importance in that cables of the .type heretreierred =to,'.are frequently pulled over :the ground and partly suspended .whenlaid over .an obstacle, thereby subjecting thecouplingszto considerable pulling and bending stresses.

nnotherlobjectof the invention is to provide acoll l n a novel and improved symmetrical coupling in which. t e contact pins of the. co nector mem bers are fully protected a ainst damage by impact when the connector members are disengaged. from each other.

Cables of the gen ral typ above r f r d o.

are principallyused outdoors so that the coup e u t' be. protected a ainst the ac e o duct, moisture, snow. e and water- Protection of the contact elements of the coupling and of the entire interior of the, couplin ar p ticularly important and alsoparticularly diiiicult when the c upl n s used in olle on with.

cables for maritime use and submerged in water, r nstan euin sea .water f su stant depth- A c rdin l it s s a t r obj t f the inventionto provide-a novel and impr d ymmetrical coupling the interior of which contain.- ing the contact elements and the insulation ma terial is completely and tightly sealed against access or seepage of moisture and water or other liquid even though the water maybe underpressureas it is in case of submerged cables.

Another and more s cifi object of the inention-is o pr v de o k n means y which t Qther andiurther objects, features andadr vantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinaferand set forth in the appended claims or n -pa to thean icat o In the accompanying drawing several now pre ferred embodiments .of the invention are shown by Way ;of :illustration and not by way of limitation. V v ln-thedrawing: 1 l .Fig. 1 is a partly sectional .view of a coupling according to thejinvention, the connector membersbeinsshowrn separated.

Fig. 2".is .a view of the same coupling as 'Fig. l, the connector members being connected to eachothor.

Fig. 3. -is a sectionalong-line 31-3 of Fig.1.. I Fig. 4 is a viewof a modification of one of the two symmetrical connector .members. :lr'ligii shows :two connector members accord-v ingto'FigA in engagement,and

Fig. .6.,.is a'sectional viewof another'modification of.a coupling connector.

gene al Referring now to the figures in detail, the exempliflcation of the coupling according to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive comprises two symmetrical connectors, generally designated by In and H respectively. Connector I is connected to an insulated cable, generally designated by [2 and connector H to an insulated cable, generally designated by l3. Each cable is shown as a twowire cable. However, it will be obvious that couplings according to the invention can also be applied to cables having any even number of wires. The end of each cable, say of cable I3 i provided with a substantially cone-shaped sleeve l4 made of rubber or any other suitable insulation material. Connector is seated upon the, flat face of sleeve I4. The connector comprises a substantially cylindrical insulation member l5. This insulation member may be made of any suitable material which has high electric resistance properties, is resistant to changes in temperature within'a wide range, has a low coethcient of shrinkage and is long lasting. Insulation material combining these properties is generally found among the solid and rigid materials; various plastics are known in the art satisfying all requirements. To secure member in its position relative to sleeve 14 an annular groove I6 is provided in the face of sleeve l4 which groove is engaged by-a corresponding annular ring I! extending from member l5.

The insulation member encases the contact elements of the connector. These contact elements are shown as a socket I8 and as a plug or pin l9protruding from the forward end of insulation member l5. In other words, each connector is provided with an engaging and a receiving contact element. As can best be seen in Fig. 1, wire 20 of cable I3 is connected to socket l8 andwire2| to pin [9.

The end of the rigid insulation member I facing the insulation member 15 of the other connector l0 when'the connectors are in alignment is covered With a disc 23. The'disc is madeof a flexible or yielding insulation material such as rubber as distinguished from the rigid insulation material preferably used for insulation member [5. To secure disc 23 in its position on insulation member IS, the disc is provided with an annular extension 24 engaging a corresponding annular recess 25in the face of the insulation member. On theupper or front side of disc '23 there is provided a spigot or collar 26 encompassing contact pin l9. This collar is arranged to engage a corresponding opening 2! m me disc of the other connector when the 'two connectors are joined. In other word srwhen' contactpin llof one connector engages socket [B of the other connector, the collars 26 will also engage the corresponding openings 21, thereby effectively seal ing the contact elements of the connectors against the entrance of moisture, dust, etc. The sealing effected by disc 23 is further improved by providing on the upper side of the disc an annular ring or collar 28 which can be tightly pressed against ring or collarof the disc of the second connector as will be more fully'explaine'd hereinafter: Y The provision of a disc or sealing washer 23 detachably secured to insulation member l5 has the advantage of greatly extending the useful life of the connectors and with it of the entire cable sections to which, the connectors are applied as in practice it is usually not feasible to replace a damaged or worn out connectoix. I

As will be evident, an insulation member made 1 in temperature, etc. and also ages comparatively rapidly. By making the sealing washer exchangeable, the disadvantage of using rubber is eliminated without losing the advantage of a flexible sealing material.

For the purpose of permanently securing the connector and relieving cable pull from the conductors and electrical joints, a substantially cupshaped metal element 30 is imbedded in sleeve I4 and extended into insulation member l5. Cup 30 is further secured, particularly against pull, by a disc 3| slipped over the inner insulation 32 of wires 20 and 2|. Disc 3| and with it cup 30 serve to receive cable pull from. the conductors- (if an armored cable be used) through the steel wire 33 surrounding insulation 32 and fastened to disc 3| by means of a loop or knot 34.

The means for securing connector ll tothe cable end further comprise a metal sleeve 35 tightly fitted upon insulation member l5 and inserted with its lower end in a corresponding annular recess 35 of sleeve l4, the upper end of.

sleeve 35 being substantially flush with the upper end of member 15. The walls of sleeve 35 and cup 30 are each provided with two holes. A pin 31 is passed through the four holes thus formed and secured at both ends by two rivet heads and 39 respectively countersunk in corresponding recesses of sleeve 35. V i

As will be evident, the previouslydescribed fastening means secure member [5 and sleeve. 35

rigidly to cable sleeve [4 and take the'cablepull. For the purpose of securing connectors III and I I- to each other, each connector is provided with an identical screw member generally designated by 40. Each screw member comprises a sleeve portion 4| and a spiral portion 42. Sleevepor tion 4| forming an outer sleeve is rotatably mounted upon sleeve 35 forming an inner. sleeve. To prevent axial displacement of a screw member on the inner -sleeve, sleeve'portion 4| is provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 43 engaging a corresponding annular recess 44 on the lower end of sleeve 35'a's' can best be seen on Fig. l. Sleeve portion 4| '15 provided with a knurled section 45 and two openings 46 to allow for access to rivet heads 38 and 39. Each spiral portion42 is extended beyond the upper edge of the respective insulation member I5 and provided with two open spiral slots 41 and 48 to form screw threads ascan best be seen on the upper half of Fig. 1. It will be apparent fromthls figure that as a result two threads 43 and 50 areformed ending about apart. However, it should be understood'that instead of 'a screw member having a; double thread, a screw member having a single thread or more; than twothreads may also be provided depending .upon the .desiredaxial rigidity of the coupling and protection of the contact pinsparticularly'at the tips thereof. The widths of. the slots. in axial direction-are substantially equal to or slightly below the widths of the threads proper in axial direction for reasons esteem which will be more fully explainedhereinafter. Furthermore, the total axial depth of the threads of each spiral portion,that is, the distance from the outer ends of the threads to'the inner end thereof is slightly in excess of the lengths of the protruding portions of each contact pin [9 for reasons which will also be more fully explained hereinafter.

Each connector is further provided with a locking means. These locking means, generally designatedby 55, are shown as comprising a twoai m lever 56 pivotally supported in a slot 51 of sleeve portion 4! by means of a pin 58 inserted into a corresponding hole of sleeve portion H as can best be seen on Fig. 3. One arm of the lever 56 is preferably slanted and extended toward cable sleeve M,- as can be seen on the upperhalf of Fig. l 'so that-lev'er56 can be pivoted-about pin 58. The second arm of the lever is extended toward the spiral portion 12 and arranged to engage a'corresponding detent 59 near the-tip or" each thread as can-be best seen on Fig. 2 A spring fiii'tends to'urge thesaid second arm of lever 56 into" engagement with the respective detent59.

As-can best be seen on Fig. 2, the lever of one connector always coa'cts with the detent in a thread of the other connector, thereby locking the two connectorstogether when the levers engage the respective'detents. Figs. 1 andZfurthermore show that the two locking means are displaced circumferentiallyrelative to each other. As a result, thetwo connectors, when locked, ca'nnever beaccidentally unlocked when pressure is exerted. upon the coupling for instance when a car wheel'passes over the. coupling since both locking means :must be simultaneously actuated for. the. purpose of unlock.- ing the connectors.

To facilitate the joining of the connectors in amanner more fully described hereinafter, the side SI of the levers 56 facing the threads is slanted (see Fig.3) in such direction that the.

levers will be lifted automatically-out of the re-,

spective detents when, the screw members are:

rotated relative to each other in the direction for joining the two connectors but will resistrele ativerotation of the screw members in opposite direction for purpose of separating the connectors.

In the previous specification, reference has been mostly made to connector H ,as, this connector is shown in section but it should be clearly understood that connector I9 is symmetrical in all essential respects.

The operation of a coupling according to Figs. 1 to 3,, as hereinbefore described, is as follows: Let it .be assumed that it is intended to join the'connectors l0 and II for the purpose of forminga continuous cable length. The connectors are placed into an aligned position as shownin Fig. 1 and then moved towards each other to bring the threads of one connector into engagement with the threads of the other con nector. Since the threads are symmetricaland the axial widths of the slots-or spacings between the threadszare equal to or slightly below the axial widths ofthe threads proper, each screw member can either engage or receive the other screw member. In other words, connector [9 can be screwedinto'connector II or connector II can be screwed into connector it. The two connectors are screwed together by rotating screw members it relative to each other while the other components of the connectors, particularly member l5 with the contact' elements and the conductors proper, remain stationary. The relative rotation of the screw members will force the connectors towards each other thereby caus ing pin IQ of one connector to enter socket I8 of the other connector. As the contact elements are-symmetrical, it will be evident that each connector will fit any other connector, thereby completely eliminating the necessityof reversing a cable section to match connectors.

As the relative rotation-of the screw members is-c'ontinued and the contact pins l9 penetrate deeper into the corresponding sockets l8, collars 26 will finally enter the corresponding recesses 21, and ring 28 of one washer 23 will be pressed against the ring of the other washer thereby effectively sealing the interior of the coupling. At the same time, threads 49 and 50 will supplement each other to form a substantially closed and rigid shell protecting the interior of the coupling as can best be seen on Fig. 2. In this connection it should be mentioned that threads 19 and 50 also serve as protectionof pins l9 against damage by impact by reason of encompassing the 'pins when the connectors are separated, as can best be seen in Fig. 1. As the screw members are pressed one against the other, any dirt in the clearances'between threads is squeezed out since these clearances are substantially closed by the screw pressure.

It will be apparent that the sealing washers can be pressed together with substantial pressure thereby effecting a tightsealing by gripping the knurled sections of the screw members.

In the event particularly high sealing pressure is desirable, suitable wrenches can be conveniently applied to the screw members. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the internal parts of the connectors remain stationary and are not subject to any distortion, an additional effective sealing and hence protection of the contact elements are effected at collars or spigots 26. Since the axial depth of the threads is slightly in excess of the lengths of the protruding portion of pins it, any desired sealing pressure can be attained. I

When the connectors'are finally moved into joined and sealed positions, each lever 56 is in alignment with the corresponding detent 59 and will engage the same, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby locking the connectors in thesaid joined and sealed positions. As will be apparent, the em-' ployed locking means do not permit any retrograde relative movement of the screw members entailing relaxation of the sealing pressure as do bayonet locks. V

For the purpose of separating the two connectors it is merelly necessary to lift both looks or catches whereupon the screw members can be unscrewed thereby forcing the contact elements out of engagement.

The modification of the coupling shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to the embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive as far as the arrangement of the contact :elements and the means for securing the connectors are concerned. The same reference characters are therefore employed to designate identical parts. The modification according, to Figs. 4 and 5 is distinguished from Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive by the arrangement of the locking means. While the locking means of Figs. lto 3 look the two connectors in the joined and sealed position only, the locking means of Figs. 4 and 5 secure the two connectors in any selected relative position.

7 For this purpose, certain portions of the edge of the threads 49 and 50 of each screw member are provided with serrations 65. Asa result, the serrations in the threads of one screw member will engage the serrations in the threads of the other screw member when the screw members are screwed together, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby securing the two connectors in any relative position of the screw members in which rotation thereof is discontinued. To permit rtation of the screw members in spite of the resistance oiiered by the serrations engaging. each other, a limited clearance 66 is provided between certain portions of the threads as can best be seen on Fig. 5, thereby providing for a limited displacement of the threads in axial direction so that the thread portions including the serrations can yield in axial directions when the screw members are rotated relative to each other; Furthermore, the tips of each thread are shortened relative to the ends of the slots 41 and 48 thus facilitating the exertion of the desired sealing pressure.

The locking means according to Figs. 4 and 5 have the advantage that the sealing pressure can be varied by pulling the screw members more or less tightly together to compensate for shrinkage or settling of sealing washers 23.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the coupling connectors. parison of Fig. 6 and connector ii of Figs. 1 and 2 the connector of Fig. 6 is similar to the connector of Fig. 1 in all respects with the ex-.' ception that the rigid insulation member I5 and the detachable flexible sealing washer 23 are replaced by an extension of the cable insula tion. In other words, the ends portion 10 of the cable insulation serves as support for the contact elements proper and also as support for the inner sleeve tightly fitted upon insulation portion 10. To secure socket i8 and pin i9 in their positions within the flexible insulation ma,

terial, usually rubber, a distance disc 22 made of rigid insulation material is provided.

The operation of the connector according to Fig. 6 will be obvious from the previous explanations. It will further be obvious that the insulation material of the cable will not experience any distortion when the connector according to Fig. 6 is screwed together with the other symmetrical connector of the coupling as only the screw members are rotated relative to each other while the insulation material and the contact elements supported thereon remain stationary.

The face of the insulation portion vIll is shaped similar to the upper side of the disc 23 so that is will form a sealing portion to be pressed against the corresponding sealing element of the other connector when two connectors are screwed together.

As previously mentioned, the connector of Fig. 6 can be screwed together with a similar connector to form a coupling. However, the connector can also be screwed together with a connector according to Fig. 1. In other words, the connectors of Figs. 1 and 6 are exchangeable.

The connector according to Figs. 4 and 5 can also be designed similar to the connector of Fig. 6 in regard to the insulation material.

In this connection it should be mentioned that detents 59 may also be provided in the threads of the connectors of Figs. 4 and 5 in which case all illustrated connector modifications are freely exchangeable.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred ex- As will appear from a comamples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical coupling for detachably connecting conductor ends including a pair of symmetrical connector members, each connector comprising engaging and receiving contact elements connected to the respective conductors and each arranged to engage and receive a corresponding contact element on the other connector, each connector further comprising an insulation member supporting the respective contact elements, the portions of the insulation members facing each other when the connectors are joined constituting sealing portions, and a screw member rotatably supported on the insulation member, each screw member having a plurality of self-supporting spaced threads engageable with the threads of the screw member of the other connector, each two adjacent threads of one screw member being adapted to receive a thread of the other screw member therein between so as to form a substantially closed sleeve with flush wall encompassing the insulation members and to secure the connectors to each other with the contact elements of the connectors in engaging and receiving positions respectively and with the sealing portions pressed one against the other for sealing the interior of the coupling.

2. An electrical coupling for detachably connecting conductor ends including a pair of symmetrical connector members, each connector comprising engaging and receiving contact elements connected to the respective conductor and each arranged to engage and receive a corresponding contact element on the other conductor, each connector further comprising an insulation member supporting the respective contact elements, a flexible sealing member at the end or the insulation member in a position facing the sealing member of the other connector when the connectors are joined, and a screw member rotatably supported on the insulation member and constructed to be screwed together with the screw member of the other connector so as to secure the connectors to each other with the contact elements in engaging and receiving positions respectively and with the sealing members pressed one against the other for sealing the interior of the coupling, each of said screw members comprising a sleeve portion rotatably mounted on the respective insulation member co-axially therewith and a spiral portion forming several self-supporting spaced screw threads and extending from the sleeve portion coaxially therewith andbeyond the sealing member, the axial spacings between threads of each spiral portion and the axial width of the thread material proper being of a beyond the respective sealingmember is in exwhen the connectors are screwed together, thereby effectinga sealing pressure between said two sealing members. 7

r An-electrical coupling as described in claim -2; in combination with locking means supported on said connectors and arranged to lock the said screw members against relative rotation, thereby securing the connectors in joiri'ed'position.

" l 5 An electrical coupling as 'des'cribedin claim 2, wherein each connector additionally comprises a locking element supported on the screw member, each of said screw memb'ers including a detent in its outer wall, said locking elements and said detents being-positioned so that the locking element of one connector is in alignment with the respective detent of the other connector when ;'the' ;connectors are in joined and sealed positions, thereby causing each locking element to engage the respective detent for locking the connectors in the said joined and sealed positions, one of the locking elements and the detent coacting therewith being circumferentially displaced relative to the other locking element and the detent coacting therewith.

6. An electrical coupling for detachably connecting the conductors of two insulated cables,

said coupling including a pair of symmetrical connector members, each connector comprising engaging and receiving contact elements connected to the respective conductor and each arranged to engage and receive a corresponding ber arranged to b screwed together with the r.

screw member of the other connector so as to secure the connectors to each other with the contact elements of the connectors in engaging and receiving positions respectively and with the sealing members pressed one against the other for sealing the interior of the coupling, each of said screw members comprising an outer sleeve rotatably mounted on the inner sleeve and a spiral portion forming several self-supporting spaced screw threads and extending from the outer so as to cause the spiral portion of one connector either to engage or to receive the spiral portion of the other connector and to form a substantially closed sleeve when the said screw members are rotated relative to each other for the purpose of joining the connectors.

7. An electrical coupling as described in claim 6, wherein a substantially cup-shaped member is embedded in the insulation of each cable and extended into the body of said respective insulation member, the inner sleeve, the insulation member and the cup-shaped member of each connector having holes therethrough disposed in alignment one with the other, and wherein a securing pin is passed through said holes for securing the insulation member and the inner 10 sleeve of each-'connec or to the respective cable insulation. t

8. An electrical coupling as described in claim 6, wherein said outer sleeve rotatably mounted on the inner sleeve is provided with an inwardly extending flange, and wherein said inner sleeve is provided with an annular recess engaged by s'aid'flange to prevent axial displacement of the outer sleeve relative to the inner sleeve.

9. A coupling for detachably connecting the ends of two electric conductors, including a pair of symmetrical members, each connector comprising; engaging and receiving contact elements connected to the respective conductor and each arranged to engage and receive a corresponding contact element on the other connector, each connector further comprising an insulation member supporting the respective contact elements, the face portions of the insulation members having flexible sealing portions thereon, and a substantially sleeve shaped screw member rotatably supported on each insulation member and engageable one with the other, each screw member including self-supporting spaced helical threada each two adjacent threads of one member being adapted to receive a thread of the other member therein-between, said insulation members being arranged to engage each other with the said sealing portions in response to a preliminary rotation of the engaged screw members relative to each other and to be moved intoa relative axial position in which the sealing portions are pressed against each other in response to a final relative rotation of the screw members causing compression of said sealing portions, thereby joining the connectors with said sealing portions in sealing engagement, the said engaged threads forming a substantially closed sleeve with flush wall.

10. A coupling for detachably connecting the ends of two electric conductors, including a pair of symmetrical members, each connector comprising engaging and receiving contact elements connected to the respective conductor and each arranged to engage and receive a corresponding contact element on the other connector, each connector further comprising an insulation member supporting the respective contact elements,

the face portions of the insulation members having yieldable sealing portions thereon, and a substantially sleeve shaped screw member rotatably supported on each insulation member and engageable one with the other, each screw memberv including self-supporting spaced helical threads" springy in axial direction, each two adjacent threads of one screw member being adapted to receive the thread of the other screw member thereinbetween, the axial spacing between each two adjacent threads of each screw member be ing slightly in excess of the axial width of the threads, edge portions of said threads facing each otherwhen the screw members are screwed together including serrations arranged to engage each other, said insulation members being arranged to engage each other with the said sealing portions in response to a preliminary rotation of the engaged screw members relative to each other and to be moved into a relative axial position in which the sealing portions are pressed against each other in response to a final relative rotation of the engaged screw members causing axial deformation of the threads within the limits of said excess axial spacing and compression of said sealing portions, thereby joining the connectors with said yieldable portions in sealing '11 engagement, said serrated edge portions securing the screw members in their relative final position, the said engaged threads forming a subtions of the threads facing each other when the :two screw'members are threaded one into the other 1 to permit axial yielding of the threads, thereby permitting sliding relative movement of said serrated thread portions for moving said insulation members into a relative position compressingsaid sealing portions. Y

' HENRY J. MODREY.

REFERENCES CITED I Thefollowing references are of 'record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS X Date Number Name 52,958 Briggs Mar. 6, 1866 Runels Aug. 9, 1887 Number 7 Number Name 7 Date Hall Sept. 6, 1892 Mendel May 21, 1912 Babos Aug. 31, 1915 Moon Apr. 10, 1934 Ley et a1. Sept. 17, 1935 Neeson July 19, 1938 Joseph Feb. 11, 1941 John July 1, 1941 Miller Dec. 28, 1943 Webber July 10, 1945 Andersen Sept. 4, 1945 Andersen Oct. 9, 1945 Miller et a1. Mar. 19, 1946 Wiggins Oct. 22, 1946 Miller et a1. May 27, 1947 Larkins Jr Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Sept. 30, 1937 Germany July 1, 1940 

